Annual Convenings
February 26, 2018:
This was the second annual convening of the City-wide OST Initiative. Held on February 26, 2017 at the Franklin Institute with over 160 OST stakeholders, this half-day retreat was launched with remarks from Mayor Jim Kenney, Dr. William Hite (Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia) and Michael DiBerardinis (Managing Director, City of Philadelphia).
Michael DiBerardinis then facilitated a panel discussion with Cynthia Figueroa (Commissioner, Department of Human Services), Siobhan Reardon (President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia), Kathryn Ott Lovell (Commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation) and Deanda Logan (Principal, William Cramp Elementary). The panel discussed various aspects of the initiative and the new pilot of the Philly Reading Coaches model, which is currently being piloted in three OST programs based in School District of Philadelphia schools.
A working meeting, the event included over 160 stakeholders from the philanthropic, service provider, and educational communities, as well as members of allied City departments who then participated in one of three workshops focusing on different aspects of the initiative:
- The National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) facilitated a feedback session around defining program quality in OST.
- After-School Activities Partnerships facilitated a conversation around the new program locator that is set to roll out in FY19.
- The City-wide OST Initiative presented information about the new CitySpan database which will be used by City-funded OST programs and which non-City-funded programs can use at no cost.